The body of former Kanu secretary-general John Joseph Kamotho was flown into the country from South Africa on Wednesday ahead of his burial next week.
Family members received the body of the former minister and one-time MP for Mathioya at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at 5:30 am.
His daughter Marianne Nyokabi told the Nation the body was later moved to Lee Funeral Home for preservation until Wednesday when the burial will take place.
Mr Kamotho, popularly known as JJ, passed away last Saturday morning at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg after suffering cardiac arrest. He had undergone hip surgery. (READ: JJ Kamotho dies in South Africa hospital )
“He had septic arthritis of the hip. We left for Milpark Hospital on October 7 and his operation was on October 15,” said Ms Nyokabi on Thursday.
The surgery was successful but the 72-year-old politician developed pneumonia and eventually cardiac arrest.
Mr Kamotho, who served as Kanu secretary-general for 14 years, had been battling ill health since March last year when he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital for three months suffering from acute pneumonia.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for the family, Mr Chege Kirundi, said a requiem Mass would be held at Consolata Shrine in Nairobi a day before the burial.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is among the expected guests during the Mass, according to Starehe MP Maina Kamanda, who had also visited the family to offer his condolences.
Mr Kirundi said Mr Kamotho would then be laid to rest at his Njumbi farm in Mathioya, Murang’a County, on December 17 in a ceremony expected to attract several high-profile politicians.
“A service will be held at Kiriti Secondary School before the burial at his farm in Mathioya,” said Mr Kirundi when he spoke at the late Kamotho’s home in Kitisuru, Nairobi.
Other leaders who visited the family on Wednesday included East Africa Legislative Assembly Member Mumbi Ng’aru, Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria and Equity Bank Chairman Peter Munga.
The politician first went to Parliament as MP for Kangema in 1974. He served until 1983, when then President Moi called a snap election to purge “disloyal elements” or people who were perceived as being close to Charles Njonjo, who had fallen out with Mr Moi.
Mr Kamotho was elected back to the House in 1988 to represent Kangema, serving until 1992, when he lost the seat to John Michuki.
He remained in the House for two consecutive terms as a nominated MP in 1993 and 1998. In 2003, Mr Kamotho made it back to the House as MP for Mathioya, a constituency that had been hived off the larger Kangema.
He also served in several portfolios in the Moi administration, including Transport, Education, Trade, Environment and Local Government.
Mr Kamotho, who was born in 1942, joined Muthangari Primary School in Murang’a in 1948 and sat the Common Entrance Examination in 1952, later joining Njumbi Intermediate School in 1955.
Mr Kamotho is survived by his wife, Eunice, and four children.
